Composite closure for sheet-metal containers



" 1,651,342 c. r. DRAPER COMPOSITE CLOSURE FOR SHEET METAL CONTAIflERS Nov. '29, 1927.

Filed Nov. 4. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l HE'IIII 1- \I\ 11!! I C 11 l 1 c'. T. DRAPER COMPOSITE CLOSURE FOR SHEET METAL CONT AINERS Filed Nov. 4. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Nov. 29, 1927,. 1,651,342

REMOVE THIS FRICTION CAP me/viz Patented Nov. '29, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,651,342 PATENT, OFFICE.

CHARLES T. DRAPER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DBAPER MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

COMPOSITE CLOSURE FOR SHEET-METAL CONTAINERS.

Application filed November 4, 1924. Serial No. 747,760.

6 shipper, manufacturer and user, respectively, of such containers, through the provi sion of two coacting closure members having different functional features when applied to the opening or vent of a sheet metal container.

Sheet metal barrels obviously require means affording the greatest facility for filling them and sealing their contents, yet,

.such barrels customarily are shipped long distances to the manufacturers of such contents, and equally require means for temporarily .closing their filling openings. Moreover, the provision of an opening in the head or wall of a sheet metal container tends to weaken it at that point and it is desirable that reinforcing means shall be associated therewith. Again, if the opening is employed merely as a vent, it is important to provide means for temporarily closing the vent, preferably associated with a looking closure for retaining the contents intact.

With these and other requirements in mind, I have provided a composite closure adapted for sheet metal containers, such as sheet steel drums and barrels, comprising a relatively light gauge closure member having both frictional and locking positions with respect to the reinforced closure seat, and an associated frictional closure member which is adapted to nest within the firstnaIned member and also reinforce the perforated. wall or head of the container to which my improvements are applied.

The structural features of my invention and the principal advantages and uses thereof may bestbe explained in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, butpartially broken away and sectioned at top and bottom for the purpose of showing a sheet metal barrel equipped with my improvements,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section upon an enlarged scale to show the details of my composite closure in its locking position, Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof, Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on line IV-IV, Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is another framentary section showing the parts with the outer closure member removed from its seat,

Fig. 6 is a plan view thereof,

Fig. 7 isanother fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2' showing the inner closure member perforated for a vent,

Fig. 8 is a transverse section thereof on line VIIIVIII, Fig. 7, r Fi 9 is another fragmentary section showing the relationof the' outer closure member positioned above the seat of the inner closure member; the latter being removed, and

Fig. 10 is still another fragmentary sectional view showing the relation of the parts with the inner closure member partly inserted within its seat, but out of locking engagement.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings I have employed the same character of reference to indicate similar parts.

In Figure 1 I have illustrated a sheet steel barrel a having a faucet construction I) of novel type disposed in a side wall adjacent to the lower head a of said barrel and a composite closure construction positioned in the upper head a of the barrel. The faucet construction is an adjunct, but forms no part of my present invention; being fully described and claimed in my application for Letters Patent, Ser. No. 746,123, October 27th, 1924.

The details of the closure construction may be ex lained and they are better illustrated in s eet 2 of the drawings to which I shall make specific reference. Thus it is there shown that the ingress opening in the barrel head 11" is provided with a sleevelike or tubular friction seat 0 of considerable depth and it issurrounded by an annular elevation a of the metal head; said seat descending interiorly of the barrel immediately from the stiffening groove 0" encircling the opening.

There are provided two nesting closure member dand e for use in connection with,

said openin The inner closure member d is deeply dished normally to extend below the tubular seat a and it is provided with bosses d forced outwardly and peripherally disposed in the plane of the locking flange or constricted rim 0 for retaining said closure member in place when finally forced to its'seat, as shown in Fig. 6. Thls member 1 purpose of closing the inner member exteriorly and materially reinforcing the closure construction, since said member e preferably is formed of heavy gauge sheet steel and it is of shallow dished construction. A lip e is provided laterally of the annular rim 6 beneath which a suitable tool may be inserted for removing the outer closure member. From the foregoing it will be seen that the closure member at is provided with two cylindrical portions of different diameters respectively corresponding to the diameters of the cylindrical seat portion 0 and its contracted rim 0 thereby adapting and affording it two operative positions, from neither of which may it readily or accidentally be dislodged, with the attendant advantages herein mentioned.

The barrels equipped with my improvement are shipped to the filling station or manufacturer of the desired contents with the closure members nested and partly inserted in accordance with the showing of Fig. 10. With this relation of the closure members it is seen that both may be removed as a unit from the tubular friction seat in order to fill the barrel with gasoline, oil or any other desired contents. During shipment or storage of the containers, however, their interiors are protected against the entrance of dirt or any foreign material.

After the barrel has been filled the composite closure unit is forced completely to its seat as shown in,Fig. 3 with the locking members provided upon the inner closure member in engagement so that 1ts removalv may be accomplished, only by destroying or seriously distorting said member. Thus the contents of the barrel are maintained intact until it shall reach the user, who removes the outer closure member 6 and punches an opening (1 in the'innermember to serve as a vent during the use of the faucet b, or,

alternatively, he may forcibly remove meme.- ber d, as indicated in Fig. 9, or he may cut away the relatively thin bottom portion of said closure member at in order to use the opening in the barrel head w'for discharging its contents, as where no faucet is provided or a small residue is to be emptied out. In either case it will be seen that the outer closure member a ma be used to cover the vented closure, as in ig. 7 or it may be seated upon the rim 0 for removably'closing the' openingfinthe barrel head a";

From the foregoing it will be seen that my composite closure admirably serves, in association with a suitably formed friction seat and nesting arrangement, not only to afford a locking seal and frictional closure, but 1ts members materially co-operate with the particular conformation of the barrel head structure to reinforce the latter at its weakest point. Moreover, this construction fully lends itself to all requirements and uses of the sheet metal barrel during shipment in its filled and unfilled condition, and during the intermittent withdrawal of its contents, meanwhile protecting said contents against impurities and loss.

Having now described a structure illustrative of and embodying my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, together with such modifications as may be made by the exercise of ordinary skill in the art, the following:

1. The combination with a sheet metal container having a wall perforated by an in gress opening and provided with a flanged cylindrical seat, of a dished closure member therefor having two operative positions relative to said seat, combined positioning and locking means for said closure member, and an outer closure member fitting within the other member approximately in the plane of the perforated container wall, substantial- 1y as set forth.

2. The combination with a sheet metal container having a wall perforated by an ingress opening and provided with an inturned cylindrical seat, of a dished closure member therefor extending below the cylindrical seat when normally inserted therein and constructed of relatively light gauge metal, combined positioning and locking means for said closure member, and a second closure member fitting within the other frictionally to seal the mouth thereof, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a sheet metal container having its head perforated by an ingress opening and provided with an inwardly extending cylindrical seat and contracted rim, of a dished closure member therefor having two positions within said seat but normally extending below the rim combined positioning and locking means associated therewith, and a second closure member fitting frictionally within and normally sealing the mouth of the first-named I member substantially in the plane of the head, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with ,a sheet metal container having in its head an ingress opening provided with an inwardly extending cy lindrical seatfjfind a contracted terminal rim, of a dished clospre member therefor having two coacting cylindrical portions with di ameters corresponding to said cylindrical seat and the contracted rim respectively, and

locking means provided upon the latter adapted to engage beneath the when the closure is fully inserted, substantially as set tainer having in its head an opening provided with an inwardly extending cylindrical seat and a contracted rim portion, of a dished closure member therefor having two coacting cylindrical portions with diameters respectively corresponding to said cylindrica'l seat and its contracted rim portion, thereby aflording two operative positions therefor, locking means provided upon the smaller cylindrical portion adapted to engage beneath the rim, and a second closure member fitting frietionally within and normally sealing; the mouth of said first-named member approximately in the plane of the head, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof l'. do now aflix my 20 signature. 4

CHARLES T. DRAPER. 

